Dispenser with one-piece tamperproof actuator



Feb. 6, 1968 LEHMANN 3,367,540

DISPENSER WITH ONE-P IECE TAMPER-PROOF ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 24, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet l 40 20 q \4 I y I %a 18 2 82} INVENTOR.

5 2 Herbert G..L\1manfl BY I Feb. 6, 1968 H. G. LEHMANN 3,367,540

DISPENSER WITH ONE PIECE TAMPER-PROOF ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 24, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Qvbert (3. Lehmann United States PatentABSTRACT 0F THE DKSCLQSURE An actuator cap attachable to small hand-helddispensers, comprising a plastic, depressible actuator buttonhaving adischarge passage and orifice, said button having a frangible andremovable portion which normally blocks its movement and which isintended to be torn or broken off by the consumer at the time of firstuse of the dispenser.

This invention relates to small hand-held dispensers, and moreparticularly to dispensers of this type, having one-piece molded plastictamper-proof actuator-dispenser buttons.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved hand-held dispenserand tamper-proof actuator and discharge button, wherein the button maybe readily molded in one piece from plastic substance or the equivalent,said button being especially effective in conjunction with theassociated structures, in preventing unauthorized initial use of thedispenser while at the same time being particularly simple andinexpensive; to provide an actuator button and dispenser as above, whichis equally useful for and adaptable to either a pump-type action or apressurized action; to provide an improved dispenser with actuatorbutton and-cap combination having the above features; to provide adispenser and actuator in accordance with the foregoing, which is easilyunderstood and operated by the consumer, which is reliable andfoolproof, and wherein the actuator may be easily applied to containerseven though these have been previously fitted with valves and filledwith pressurized substance.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view partly in side elevation and partly invertical section, showing a tamper-proof actuator as provided by theinvention, assembled to a pump plunger which carries a screw cap andwhich is about to accommodate a pump cylinder or tank.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tamper-proof actuator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the actuator, taken on line 33 of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a tamper-proof actuator capconstituting another embodiment of the invention, mounted on apressurized container having a depressible hollow valve stem.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap per se of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view like that of FIG. 4 but showing the condition of thecap after being placed in use.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an actuator cap constitutingstill another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the actuator cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of an actuator cap constituting yetanother embodiment of the invention, adapted as an overcap for enclosingthe top portion of a pressurized can.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of an actuator cap adaptable foruse with either a pump-type dispenser or a pressurized type dispenser,constituting a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the actuator cap of FIG. 10.

Considering first FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a tamper-proofdispenser having an actuator designated generally by the numeral 10,said actuator being carried by the hollow plunger stem 12 of adispensing pump assemblage which further includes a screw cap 14. Thecap 14 has a central opening and bearing 16 through which the stem 12extends and in which it is vertically slidable. An intermediate portionof the stem 12 has an exterior stop shoulder 18 which is engageable withthe underside of the top wall 20 of the screw cap. The lower portion ofthe plunger stem 12 includes a flared piston skirt 22 adapted to bereceived in a cylinder or tank 24 for the purpose of effecting a pumpingaction. The tank 24 has at its upper extremity an outturned flange 26engageable with the underside of the cap wall 20 and also with the lipof the container 27 by which the tank 24 i positioned in the latter.

Additional details of the pump assemblage comprising the piston 22 andtank 24are not given herein since they are Well known to those skilledin the art. Such details may be found, for example, in US. Patent Nos.3,159,- 316, 3,223,292 and 3,228,571.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided, mounted onthe plunger stem 12, a novel tamperproof manually operable actuator anddischarge button indicated herein as 16, by which unauthorized orinadvertent operation of the plunger and pump is prevented or elseunauthorized prior actuation will be indicated, to the end that thecustomer or consumer may be assured of a full measure of contents in thedispenser.

The actuator and discharge button 10 comprises, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 13, a hollow cylindrical body portion 28 having a top, finger-engageable wall 30 from which there depends a central, hollow cylindricalboss 32. The boss 32 is arranged to be firmly frictionally fitted ontothe upper extremity portion of the plunger stem 12, as indicated inFIG. 1. In its upper portion the body 28 has a transverse dischargepassage 34 communicating with the bore 36 of the boss 32 and also with adischarge orifice member 38 which is directed laterally of the bodyportion 28.

By this invention, the manually operable body portion 28 is provided atits lower end with a blocking member which initially prevents itsdownward movement, said blocking member comprising a split dependingskirt 40 which is preferably of slightly larger diameter than the bodyportion and which is attached to the latter by a thin, frangible annularconnecting web 42. The depending skirt 40 has an L-shaped slot 44, 46 bywhich it is made discontinuous. Referring to FIG. 1, the skirt 40 isarranged to engage the top surface of the screw capw-all at the sametime that the shoulder 18 of the stem 12 engages the undersurface ofsaid top wall. By such organization, vertical movement of the plungerstem 12 is normally prevented, thereby preventing tampering, or samplingof the contents of the dispenser.

The assembly of the parts 10, 12 and 14 is effected, as seen in theupper portion of FIG. 1, by first passing the stem 12 upward through thewall 20 of the screw cap and then pressing it into the mounting boss 22of the body portion 28. Thereafter, the cylinder or tank 24 may beapplied or set in place within the screw cap 14 so that it accommodatesthe piston skirt 22.

As an alternative assemblage, the entire pump and screw cap mechanismcan be pre-assembled and thereafter the actuator 10 applied and held inplace by a suitable quicksetting glue or adhesive. With this latterarrangement the boss 22 of the actuator will have a reasonably loose fiton the plunger stem 12, and the latter will have adhesive applied to itsupper outer portion, by which the stern becomes aflixed to the boss 32after the assemblage.

It will now be understood that by the presence of the skirt 40,unauthorized or accidental operation of the actuator or dispenser isprevented. When the consumer desires to place the dispenser in use heinserts either a fingernail or a bladed tool in the slot 44, pullingaway the skirt 4t) and removing it completely as made possible by thethin frangible web 42. The horizontal portion 46 of the L-shaped slotwill facilitate the removal of the skirt. As an alternative procedure, asmall coin might be inserted in the slot 44 to facilitate the removal ofthe skirt 40.

After such removal of the skirt, the body portion 28 will no longer beblocked and prevented from having downward vertical movement.Accordingly, the user by the application of suitable finger pressure onthe top wall 30 may now operate the pump assemblage, to effect adischarge of the contents of the container.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, where atamper-proof assemblage comprising an actuator and discharge cap isprovided on a pressurized dispenser as distinguished from the pumpingdispenser arrangement of FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 4 shows a pressurized dispenser50 having mounted in its neck a discharge valve housing 52 secured tothe dispenser container by an inverted mounting cup 54. The dischargevalve assemblage includes a hollow vertically movable, upstanding valvestem 56. Such valve-controlled dispensers are well known in the art, anddetails of one such arrangement may be found in US. Patent No.3,054,536.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel tamper-proof actuatorof resilient plastic substance, designated generally by the numeral 58is provided, adapted to normally prevent inadvertent operation of thevalve stem 56 and yet enable authorized operation to be readily effectedwhen the dispenser is to be placed in use by the consumer. The actuator58 (also well known as an actuator button) comprises a body portion 60in the shape of an inverted cup, said body portion having a centraldepending hollow hub 62 arranged to receive the upper extremity portionof the valve stem 56. Below the top wall 64 of the body portion there isa horizontal discharge passage 66 communicating with the bore 63 of theboss 62 and also with a discharge orifice member 70. Thus, discharge ofthe pressurized substance which passes upward through the hollow valvestem 56 will be sprayed laterally of the actuator 58 from the dischargeorifice 70.

At its lower portion, the body 60 has an internal annular detent rib 72(shown exaggerated in the figures) which engages the underside of themounting cup 54 to hold the body 60 captive on the container.

In accordance with the present invention the lower portion of thedepending hub 62 (that shown in FIG. 4 as contacting the valve stem 56)has a loose sliding fit with the upper extremity of the valve stem. Theportion of the boss 62 which is above the top of the valve stem 56 andbetween the latter and a stop shoulder 74 (as seen in FIG. 4) is madeslightly tapering and arranged to frictionally grip the top portion ofthe stem 56 when the latter is forced into it. This is illustrated inFIG. 6.

Also, by the present invention, a tear-away protective skirt 76 iscarried by the lower portion of the body 60, being preferably securedthereto by a plurality of thin frangible webs 78 separated from eachother by small openings 80. The tear-away skirt 76 has a pull tab 82(FIGS. 4 and to enable the skirt to be easily grasped at the time thatthe dispenser is to be placed in use. Thus the actuator cap 58 may beinitially applied over the mounting cup without operating the stem 56,by being careful that the cap is not applied so forcibly as to breakaway its bottom skirt 76. As seen in FIG. 4, the skirt 76 normallyengages the shoulder 84 of the container 50, thereby preventing downwardmovement of the actuator button 60 and preventing dis-charge of thecontainer contents since the valve stem 56 cannot be depressed due toits loose fit in the lower portion of the boss 62. However, when theuser grasps the pull tab 8.2 and tears away the blocking skirt 76, theactuator body 60 will no longer be prevented from having downwardmovement. As the user now applies finger pressure on the top wall 66,this wi l shift the body 60 downward and cause the valve stem 56 to befrictionally seized in the upper portion of the depending boss 62. Thisprovides a leakproof connection between the valve stem 56 and the button60 and hub 62. Further downward movement from the position of FIG. 6will now effect a depressing of the valve stem 56, causing a dischargeof the aerosol substance from the orifice 70. After the first use, theactuator 58 will remain in the position indicated in FIG. 6. Under anycircumstance the detent bead 72 will hold the actuator captive on thecontainer whereby it is at ali times in readiness for use.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.Here a pressurized container 84 has mounted on it a tamper-proofactuator 86 comprising an inverted cup-like body 38 the lower edgeportion of which is provided with a plurality of depending break-awaytabs 90 engaging the shoulder 92 of the container. The tabs 90 areconnected to the body portion 88 by thin frangible web portions 94whereby they may be easily broken away when it is desired to place thedispenser in use.

The valve stem 6 of the dispenser is loosely received in the lowerportion of the depending hollow boss $8, said boss having a borecommunicating with a discharge passage 102 leading to a dischargeorifice member 104.

The top wall 106 of the body portion 88 is curved to fit the finger, anddepending from such top wall 106 is a blocking pin 108 having a slopingbottom end 110 normally engageable with the top surface 112 of themounting cup 114. The blocking pin 108 is connected to the dependingboss 98 by a thin frangible web 116, and connected to the top wall 106by a thin frangible annular web 118. The web 118 may be convenientlyformed by providing a recess 120 in the top wall 106, as shown.

Considering the position of the parts shown in FIG. 7, unauthorizedoperation of the actuator 36 is prevented by the blocking lugs 90 andalso the blocking pin 108. However, if sufiicient downward force isapplied to the actuator 36, the tabs 90 will be spread apart and theblocking pin 108 will be wedged or camnied outward whereby these partswill break away from the body portion 88. Either the tabs 90 or the pin108 may be used without the other.

If necessary, the tabs 90 may be pulled away and torn off the bodyportion 88 by use of the fingers. As the downward force on the bodyportion 88 is continued, the valve stem 6 will be extended further intothe hub 98, making sealing engagement therewith, and thereafter thevalve stem 96 will be forced downward, resulting in opening of the valveand discharge of the spray substance from the orifice 104. The bodyportion 88 of the actuator is held captive on the mounting cup 114 bythe internal detent bead 122, as with the previous embodiments of theinvention.

Once an actuation has occurred, the breaking away of the pin 108 willresult in the recess 120 having no bottom, and the hole thus formed willbe an indication that the dispenser has been put to use.

During the initial assemblage of the actuator 58 to the container 50,the lower portion of the body 60 and the detent bead 72 thereof willspread or enlarge in diameter to enable the mounting cup 54 to bypassthe head, by virtue of the body portion 60 being of a yieldable,resilient and readily deformable plastic substance.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9,wherein a can-type pressurized container 126 has an upper peripheralshoulder 128 which occupies an internal annular groove 130 of the lowerportion of an actuator body 132. A detent bead 134 which is engageablewith the shoulder 128, holds the actuator body 132 captive on thecontainer 126. The body 132 has a depending boss 136 loosely receivingthe hollow valve stem 138 of the container 126 for the positionillustrated in FIG. 9. The top wall 140 of the actuator body 132 has adepending blocking pin 142 which is joined to the boss 136 by afrangible web portion 144. The pin 142 is also joined to the top wall140 by a thin annular web 146, and has an up ward extension 148 whichprojects into the finger groove 151 of the actuator, being arranged tobe grasped by the fingers.

When the consumer desires to place the dispenser in use, he merelygrasps the extension 148 and by applying lateral movement breaks awaythe blocking pin 42, thereby freeing the actuator body 132 and enablingthe latter to be now shifted vertically downward.

Prior to the initial use, the blocking pin 142 engages the uppershoulder 143 of the container, normally preventing downward movement ofthe actuator body 132. The initial downward movement of the body 132will cause the valve stem 133 to be forced into the upper portion of thedepending hub 136 wherein it is frictionally seized and efiects asealing connection with the boss. Further downward movement of theactuator body 132 will depress the valve stem 138, opening the valve andeffecting a discharge of the spray substance from the orifice 150.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. and 11. Thepressurized container 200 has mounted on it a molded resilient one-pieceactuator cap 202 comprising an outer stationary cap body structure 204and an inwardly centrally disposed depress button 206 provided with ahollow depending boss 208. The but-ton 206 has a discharge orifice 210communicating with a discharge passage 212 which in turn communicateswith the bore of the boss 208.

The container 200 has a vertically movable upstanding valve stem 214which for the positions of the parts shown in FIG. 9, is looselyreceived in the hollow boss 208 since the lower portion of the boss hasa bore diameter very slightly larger than the outside diameter of thevalve stem 214. Above the upper extremity of the valve stem 214, thebore 216 of the boss 208 becomes smaller so as to provide a sealingpress-fit with the stem when the button 206 is shifted downward ordepressed.

In accordance with the invention, a tamper-proof indicator device isprovided on the button 206, comprising a blocking pin 218 which extendsinto the sealing cup 220 and engages the bottom wall surface 222 of thecup, thereby to initially prevent downward movement of the button 206.The blocking pin 218 has an upper portion 218a which projects at therear of the button 206 and is provided with wings 218b arranged to begrasped by the fingers. The blocking pin 218 is connected to the button206 by a very thin frangible web 224 whereby the pin may be easilybroken away and removed.

Prior to the dispenser being legitimately placed in use, the presence ofthe blocking pin 218 prevents inadvertent or unauthorized, undetecteddepressing movement of the depress button 206, thereby minimizing thelikelihood of tampering with the dispenser. If under any circumstancethe button 206 should be depressed by an unauthorized person, the pin218 will be broken or torn away from the button, thereby constituting anindication that the device has been tampered with.

In the use of the dispenser, the consumer merely grasps the upper end218a of the blocking pin 218 and tears the pin from the button bytwisting it, utilizing the two wings 2181: provided for this purpose.When the blocking pin 218 has been torn loose and removed, the depressbutton 206 may be readily moved downward to efiect the desired dischargeof the contents of the pressurized container 200. The first downwardmovement of the button 200 will cause the valve stem 214 to be wedgedtightly 6 in the smaller portion of the bore 216 of the boss 208,thereby providing for a sealing engagement between the valve stem andthe boss.

The depress button 206 is connected to the stationary cap body 204 byfour flat flexible web portions 226, 228, 230 and 232, the entireactuator being molded as a single piece in one operation, with thebutton, connector webs and cap body all integral with each other andwith the blocking pin 218. A somewhat similar actuator is described indetail in my copending application Ser. No. 515,541 filed Dec. 22, 1965,and entitled, Plastic One- Piece Actuator and Nozzle for SmallDispensers.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided anovel and improved tamper-proof dispenser comprising an actuator anddischarge button which is carried by the vertically movable plunger orstem of the dispenser, said actuator being normally prevented fromhaving operative movement by the presence of a blocking means in theform of either a skirt, depending tabs, or a depending blocking pin. Anyunauthorized operation of the actuator will be evident by the removalwhich is required of the blocking member to effect such actuation.Accordingly, a prospective user or customer will be apprised of the factthat some sampling or removal of the contents of the container hasoccurred.

The dispenser may be easily and quickly be put into use by the properparty, by removing the blocking skirt, tabs or pin.

In the event that the dispenser is of the pumping type, the assemblageof the actuator button to the plunger stem may be effected prior toassemblage of the pump components, or else subsequent to such assemblageby the use of a suitable adhesive. In the case of pressurized dispenserswherein the valve assemblage and container are already assembled andprovided with the pressurized substance, the actuator member initiallyhas a loose fit with the dispensing valve stem, being held captive byengagement with the container at another location in connection with adetent bead or the equivalent. The first operation of the actuator, asoccasioned by removal of the blocking means, effects a tight seal-proofand leakproof connection between the valve stem and the actuator body,which connection is thereafter maintained because of the frictionalretention of the actuator stem.

All of the illustrated structures are especially simple, economical toproduce, and involve a minimum number of parts which are capable ofbeing readily molded in simple production equipment.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A hand-held dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a container,

(b) means including a hollow movable stem, for effecting a discharge ofthe contained substance through said stem when the latter is depressed,

(c) a combined actuator and discharge button having a discharge passage,said button being mechanically connected with said stem to receive thedischarging substance and to convey the same to a discharge point on thebutton,

(d) depressing movement of said button causing similar movement of thestem to effect the discharge,

(e) disposable, temporarily cooperable means on the exterior of thebutton and the container, blocking the button against depressingmovement,

(f) said cooperable means comprising a removable and discardableaccessible blocking member integral with the button and a frangible webwhich is readily broken and which connects the member to the buttonwhereby the member can be readily intentionally completely severed fromthe button by an act of the user.

2. A dispenser as in claim 1., wherein:

(a) the disposable means comprises an abutment on the container and aring-shaped skirt attached to the lower edge portion of the button bysaid frangible web and engageable with said abutment.

(b) said skirt being wholly removable from the button by tearing it offat the frangible web.

3. A dispenser as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the abutment on the container comprises a screw cap having anopening through which the stern passes and in which it is reciprocable,

(b) said stem having a piston attached to its inner end, and having ashoulder disposed intermediate its ends,

(0) a cylinder surrounding the piston, having at its mouth an outturnedflange engaged with the underside of the screw cap,

(d) said button being press-fitted on the outer end of the stem,

(e) the outer and inner top wall surfaces of the screw cap beingrespectively engaged by the ring-shaped skirt and said shoulder of thestern, thereby, nornrally preventing axial movement of the stem.

4. A dispenser as in claim 3, wherein:

(a) the skirt has a depth substantially in excess of one-half the heightof the button, whereby removal of the skirt enables the button to have amovement in excess of half said height.

5. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) cooperable detent means are provided, carried by the container andbutton, holding the button captive on the container while permitting alimited extent of vertical movement of the button.

6. A dispenser as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) the button has a hollow boss receiving the end portion of the hollowstem.

(b) the lower portion of said boss having a loose fit with the stem,

(c) an upper portion of the boss having a tight sealing fit with thestem, effected in response to downward movement of the button.

7. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the button has a hollow depending boss in which the stem isreceived,

(b) said stem being received in the boss only a slight extent and havinga loose fit therewith when the button is retained in raised position bythe blocking member,

(c) said stem being more fully received in the boss and having a tightsealing fit therewith when the button is depressed after removal of theblocking member.

3. A dispenser as in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said button and container have cooperable detent means, holding thebutton captive on the container while permitting a limited amount ofvertical movement of the button.

9. A dispenser as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said container has an abutment and said block iI ig member comprisesa plurality of lugs connected to the button by frangible webs,

(b) said lugs being accessible and readily severable from the button tofree the latter for vertical movement toward the container.

10. A dispenser as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said container has an abutment and said blocking member comprises apin carried by and projecting from the button and engageable with saidabutment.

11. A dispenser as in claim 10, wherein:

(a) finger engageable means are provided on said pin, providing a gripwhich facilitates twisting the pin to break the frangible web forremoving the pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,158,292 11/1964 ODonnell222--l82 X 3,169,672 2/1965 Softer et al. 222-453 3,249,259 5/1966Corsette 222182 FOREIGN PATENTS 960,794 3/1957 Germany.

40 ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.

